I'm wanting to become a nurse

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I'm getting up to mid life years and wonder if it's too late to start nursing. I've noticed some others who may have started a little later in life and wonder the amount of time and toll it can take on a person in our latter years and what area of specialty would one suggest for the older new nurses coming onboard.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, SuzieHelper:

I started my journey last year at age 50. I applied for clinicals; and I'm waiting to hear back on the answer. I'm waiting on picking a specialty until I get into clinicals, and have more experience through clinicals.

Thank you.

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I am 43 and just finished my pre-reqs and co-reqs. I sat for my HESI entrance exam at the end of May and will be submitting my application to the program on July 1. I have 3 teens still at home and let me tell you.. it CAN be done. I have a 4.0 GPA overall and my family is fully supportive of my dreams.

I won't tell you it's easy, because it isn't. Your life experience will give you an advantage though. In my classes, our best students are all older. As far as the toll on my body.. I'm worried about that too. I'll deal with it when I start clinicals. I want this so badly I can taste it, and if you feel like that, don't let anything get in your way.

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm 38 and starting the program this fall. I will be 40 when I graduate. I don't think it is ever too late. Many of my friends at school are older than me. Some are over 50.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Age is just a number. What really matters is your physical condition. Are you a 'fit' 50 or an out-of-shape 35? Bedside nursing, especially in acute care, is very physically taxing - involves pushing, pulling, lifting, crawling under beds, etc. Muscle strain/injury is not uncommon. Many of us 'hit the wall' in mid to late 40's... when we are no longer able to cope with 12 hour shifts.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Nursing is one area where age really isn't as much of a factor. I am 34 and just graduated, and I was in the middle, age-wise, in my class. I know we had 1 or 2 50+ in our class.

Bedside nursing can be physically taxing, but there are many other areas of nursing that don't beat you up as much.

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